There is a remarkable and particularly old British record series in
Formula 1. And after 12 races in 2023, it is still possible that the series could come to an end after more than 70 years. At issue is the British national anthem, which has been heard at least once on the
F1 podium every year since 1952.
For more than 70 years running, the British anthem has been played at least once every year in F1 due to the victory of a British team or British driver. With Austrian
Red Bull Racing leading every race and
Max Verstappen already winning 10 and
Sergio Perez already winning two, the British anthem has not yet been played this year.
Red Bull and Ferrari can break British series
Having heard the Austrian anthem 12 times, the Dutch anthem 10 times and the Mexican anthem twice, there is not yet a major indication that any team can beat the team from Austria in the next 10 races under its own steam. Should the team do get beaten, a win by Italian Ferrari with Monaco's
Charles Leclerc and Spain's
Carlos Sainz would not yet keep the British record alive.
The drivers to defend 'the British title' might be
Lando Norris (UK) and
Oscar Piastri of British
McLaren, Britain's
Lewis Hamilton and
George Russell, who incidentally drive at German Mercedes, or possibly Fernando Alonso of British Aston Martin.